Graduates of a State Government ethnic community mediation program receive their certificates.By Shaun Inguanzo
TO IMPROVE the migrant settlement system, the State Government has trained 13 people from different ethnic communities in mediation and communication skills.
Last week 13 graduates from the program in Greater Dandenong received certificates to prove they are community mediators.
Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Brian Tee, representing Attorney-General Rob Hulls, was at the ceremony in Springvale to present the graduates with certificates following their six-day course.
He said the course involved role play, group work and other practical training in communication, negotiation and relationship building.
“I would like to congratulate all of today’s graduates for their hard work and commitment,” Mr Tee said.
“By using the mediation skills learned on this course, graduates will be able to make a positive and valuable difference to those most in need of assistance.”
Many of the graduates are from countries recently settled in Australia.
Nine of the 13 course participants come from the Southern Sudanese community, with other participants originating from the Burmese and Koori communities.
Mr Tee said immigration and settlement in a new country could be a challenging and daunting process, and one that required an understanding of local systems and procedures.
“Refugee communities in particular often face barriers in accessing services available to them,” he said.
“Mediators can help explain information about services, and help prevent the breakdown of relationships within their communities by resolving conflicts through mediation.
“Mediation encourages people to work through their differences before going to court, which should be a place of last resort. It not only reduces costs for the people involved, but also for the wider community and government.”
